Love
I didn't know how to comfort her now. My baby was lying on her side, crying. She had been like this since they returned from the Aquarium. Luis told me what happened and their encounter with Ellis. She was excited to see him, but then he didn't recognize her, not that I'm blaming him because he didn't even know he was a Dad.
" I'm sorry, baby. I'm sure Daddy has been through a lot on Mars," I said.
" He hates me," she sobbed. I sat on the bed and cradled her in my arms.
" No, he doesn't, babe," I cooed.
" Then why didn't he recognize me? Why didn't he come to us when he returned," she hyperventilated between sobs. How do I tell her that he doesn't know he is a father, that I didn't dare to tell him about them when I found out I was pregnant?
" He is confused, babe," I fibbed. I felt guilty about the lies.
I managed to comfort her until she fell asleep. I glanced at Luis. He was worried about her.
" Should I have told them the truth?" I asked, now regretting my lies.
" They are too young, Sweetheart. You will when they are older," he expressed, throwing an arm around me as we went to Cayden's room. I wanted to see how he was doing with all this.
" But what if they run into him again?"
" Today will never happen again," he assured me. However, I doubted that the city was big yet they met.
I opened Cayden's room. He was lying on his side too, facing the wall. I could tell he was awake by his heartbeat, but he wasn't ready to talk about it now. Cayden wasn't too vocal with his feelings, especially when he was upset. We were working on it. I kissed his hair and turned off the night light before leaving his bedroom.
..
I was preoccupied at work the following days with the app. I was in the hallway from the lab when I saw none other than Charlotte come out of Ellis' office.
' Man stealing cunt,' Vee sneered.
I didn't hate Charlotte for taking my boyfriend from me. I did at first, but not anymore. I acknowledged that it was Ellis' choice to be with her. I was vexed that she slept with him, knowing how I felt. We were friends, and I'd never have done that to her had the positions been reversed.
It took her a moment to notice me, and she gasped, her eyes widening in horror.
" Love," she breathed. She was pale suddenly. I scowled, looking at her appearance. She wore a short black skirt, a nude shirt, and pink heels. Her hair was just like I did mine before I switched to the long bob cut.
" Charlotte,"
She forced a smile on her lips as she slowly approached me.
" Love, what are you - You're back? When and why? Most importantly, what are doing in my mate's company?" she asked. Her voice was unsteady.
" Which question should I answer first? - Oh wait, I don't owe you an explanation to your questions," I said calmly, folding my arms and staring at her. She was uncomfortable by my stare.
She put her hand on her hip, her eyes flashing red. I narrowed my gaze on her.
" You have no business here. You need to leave," Charlotte wasn't confident as she uttered the words, but was trying to be.
" I do have business here, actually."
The employees were peeking at us. Michael was the first one to get out of his office. He must have mind-linked Ellis and Jace because they came out next. Charlotte smiled and strutted to Ellis, wrapping her arms around his waist. My heart sank.
" Baby, you didn't tell me Love is here," she said, looking up at him with a pout. I rolled my eyes at her annoying little voice. It wasn't as cute as she thought it was. Okay, maybe I was just being jealous. Ellis stared at me intently, not hugging back the woman clinging to him like a leech.
Not talking to anyone, I turned to walk back to my office when David appeared right in front of me. He had a rose in his hand and a smile on his face.
"You're back," I smiled back at him. He kissed my lips tentatively. When I kissed him back, he gained confidence, and he held my waist through the kiss.
" Suprised?" he asked in his manly voice when we separated. I nodded, and he kissed my temple.
" Oh, fuck," I heard Michael cuss in a low voice. Suddenly, a dark aura surrounded us, and it was dominating, angry, and murderous. David didn't let my waist go even as he turned to face Ellis and his friends.
" Hello, everyone," he greeted them, pulling me closer to him. I knew his intentions. He wanted to show me off, show them we were together now. Ellis' angry gaze was filled with pain. He glared at the hand around my waist like he wanted to rip it off. Charlotte was now standing a few paces from him. She was scared of his alpha aura. How were they mated if she was still scared like this?
' She's not marked,' my inner lycan, Vee, answered.
" David, you're back?" Ellis said through gritted teeth. The two men were always hostile against each other, but now, David was smiling like he had won a prize.
' You,'
' I'm not a prize to be won, Vee.'
She sighed and slithered to the back of my mind, unimpressed.
" Yes, I couldn't wait to come," he smiled, his eyes sparkling with mischief, Ellis' brows furrowed. David exchanged pleasantries with Michael and Jace. It seemed he was in a brilliant mood today.
" Ready?" he asked me.
" Hmm?" I stared at him, perplexed.
" Lunch, I texted you, babe,"
" Oh, I must have missed the message," I said.
" It's alright, can we go?"
I nodded my response. Charlotte stepped forward, her mood illuminating instantly.
" Oh my goddess, you two make such a cute couple," she grinned.
" Thank you," David answered.
" Shall we?" I said, wanting to leave this discomfiting situation already.
" Oh, we were about to head out for lunch as well," Charlotte said, looking back at Ellis. He looked like he wanted to commit murder. " I secured a table at the finest restaurant across the building. They serve delicious meals. Please join us," she clasped her hands. David glanced at me, but I shook my head no.
" Oh, Love, don't be like that. Don't tell me you're uncomfortable around Ellis about your past. I'm okay with it," she said.
I honestly didn't want to have any exchange with this woman, but she was pushing me. I felt David's hand on my waist tighten.
" It's alright if you're uncomfortable. Besides, I already reserved a table at your favorite restaurant," I raised an eyebrow at him. How does he know my favorite restaurant?
" Luis told me," he answered my unspoken question.
" Luis?" Jace murmured. He shared a glance with Ellis that made me uneasy, "You were in contact with him -"
" I'm starving! " I shouted anxiously, not wanting to discuss Luis. He would ask about the children.
" You know what, I insist you eat with us," Ellis suddenly spoke, looking at me intently. There was something I couldn't detect in his stare. David silently snorted but agreed.